Village Green’s Winterfest fends off cold-weather blues

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From left to right, Village Green personal support worker Deb Wales, life enrichment aide Vicki Hartin and resident Mable Martin take a timeout to enjoy refreshments during Winterfest.

From left to right, Village Green personal support worker Deb Wales, life enrichment aide Vicki Hartin and resident Mable Martin take a timeout to enjoy refreshments during Winterfest.

Home’s annual winter event brings together the most important aspects of programming

The Village Green life enrichment staff once again did its part in helping blow away the cold-weather blues when the team hosted its annual Winterfest Jan. 18-24.

Most importantly, the resident-favourite event addressed several crucial aspects of life enrichment, including sensory stimulation, reminiscing, and physical and cognitive exercise, says Karen Coulter, the Greater Napanee long-term care home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

Some of the events for this year’s Winterfest included “slap-shot hockey,” wheelchair races, Styrofoam snowman-building, activities on the home’s Nintendo Wii and, the residents’ favourite, snow-taffy making.

“Residents love the taffy-making,” Coulter tells The OMNIway, adding that for many, making snow taffy brings back old memories.

Another favourite activity is the chili contest, where the home’s staff members and families enter their homemade recipes. Residents, staff and family members sample each chili entry then vote for the recipe they like best.

Coulter won this year’s contest.

“This is the first year I won, but it was pretty close,” she says, noting that maintenance manager Brian MacPherson’s recipe, which often wins top honours, was the second-place winner.

Another benefit to Winterfest is the event’s engagement level. Coulter says most of the home’s 66 residents will spend at least one day participating in activities.

Of course, Winterfest also encompasses OMNI Health Care’s value of “fun and laughter.” OMNI’s website explains the importance of this value.

“We nurture an atmosphere that is filled with fun and laughter, warmth and enthusiasm – an atmosphere that emphasizes the brighter side of life,” the site says. “Where we can share with others the zeal for life’s small joys, together we can partake in those moments that recognize how vital life is.”

If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.

Dancing the afternoon away at Almonte

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The Hy-Liners, a dancing group, are seen here performing for Almonte Country Haven residents and staff Jan. 22.

The Hy-Liners, a dancing group, are seen here performing for Almonte Country Haven residents and staff Jan. 22.

Noted dance troupe stops by to entertain residents, staff

The spirit of the important OMNI Health Care value of “fun and laughter” resounded throughout Almonte Country Haven during a Jan. 22 visit from a noted group of local dancers who stopped by to lead a program.

That afternoon, the Lanark County long-term care home played host to the talented Hy-Liners, a group of line dancers who demonstrated their moves for everyone — and took time to teach.

The Hy-Liners are a popular group of volunteers that visit seniors in long-term care homes and hospitals throughout the region.

Their visit engaged residents and staff members, who joined in on some of the dances, which were fun and provided a source of exercise as well as entertainment.

And, of course, there were “lots of laughs” while everyone learned some new moves, says Naomi Redner, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

Having high-quality, in-home entertainment is important for long-term care residents, and the Hy-Liners delivered the goods, she adds.

“This group of dance volunteers brought many smiles to our residents and (they were) able to warm up a cold winter’s day,” says Redner.

If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.

Dementia: the people they are vs the people they were

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Ethicist Dr. Robert Butcher is seen here speaking to members of the Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network during a Jan. 22 meeting in Peterborough.

Ethicist Dr. Robert Butcher is seen here speaking to members of the Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network during a Jan. 22 meeting in Peterborough.

Ethicist underscores importance of differentiating between the two

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – There needs to be a clear understanding that those with cognitive impairment are not the people they once were – and their families and caregivers especially need to be cognizant of this. Read more

Ethical questions on end-of-life care the focus of information session

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Ethicist Dr. Robert Butcher is seen here speaking to members of the Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network during a Jan. 22 meeting in Peterborough.

Ethicist Dr. Robert Butcher is seen here speaking to members of the Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network during a Jan. 22 meeting in Peterborough.

Dr. Robert Butcher encourages LTC caregivers to reflect on their work

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – People working in the long-term care sector deal with a wide range of “philosophical puzzles” every day that require judgement calls on ethics and values – but those values aren’t always clear.

This was the focus of a presentation from Dr. Robert Butcher, an ethicist consulting on health-care issues, during a Jan. 22 Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network meeting in Peterborough.

In his presentation to more than 80 caregivers, including staff members from several OMNI Health Care homes, Butcher spoke about some of the current issues faced in end-of-life care in Canada, such as the right to die and challenges facing residents with cognitive impairment.

His informative presentation tasked caregivers to think about their work in a way that centres on what’s always best for the person being cared for. But what happens when, for example, what’s best for the resident conflicts with what their family wants for them?

For instance, a long-term care resident who has dementia may start a relationship with another resident – much to the chagrin of their spouses. How should caregivers handle these situations? Have they explained to the families that there’s a difference between their loved one now as opposed to how they were before their cognitive impairment? Do the families understand the negative impact that could result from the two residents being separated?

This is one of the themes Butcher asked caregivers to ponder.

“My purpose here this morning is to try to get people reflective of what they’re doing,” Butcher told The OMNIway. “What does this stuff mean? What are the implications of doing ‘this’ rather than ‘that’? Why do we do ‘this’ rather than ‘that’? People (need to be) more self-aware and more aware of the choices that we make as we provide that care.”

Butcher says what gives him hope that the caregivers attending will take time to consider the ideas put forth is the fact that they’re working in a profession that centres on doing what’s best for others.

“There will be nobody in this room that picked their profession for the money; they pick their profession because they want to do the best that they can for the people that they care for,” he said. “That’s the most hopeful part, there’s no question about that. If they think about things on the drive home and think about different ways of approaching questions or puzzles in their practice, then that would be great.”

The Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network consists of representatives from long-term care homes in Peterborough, Haliburton and Northumberland counties, as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes. Members meet regularly to discuss issues and best practices related to palliative care.

If you have a story you would like to share with The OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.

(VIDEO) Importance of strong LTC-government relations underscored

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Ontario’s long-term care sector and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have a strong working relationship, but it’s crucial to have discussions about issues such as regulations to ensure the best possible experience for residents, says Patrick McCarthy. Read more

Pleasant Meadow LEC to participate in her first Walk for Memories

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Chris Garden’s OMNI colleagues providing lots of support

Pleasant Meadow Manor life enrichment co-ordinator Chris Garden has been working in long-term care for 19 years. In that time, she’s worked with scores of residents affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. She’s also seeing younger people in their 50s diagnosed with dementia. Read more

Addressing Alzheimer’s a focus of recent family council meeting

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Family council meeting turns into ‘support group’

At a recent family council meeting at Burnbrae Gardens, residents’ families looked into ways to address their loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a discussion that the Campbellford long-term care home’s administrator/life enrichment co-ordinator April Faux says she would like to see continue. Read more

Streamway Villa changes Alzheimer’s awareness fundraiser in wake of outbreak

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Home’s commitment to raising funds, awareness for Alzheimer Society continues despite setback

An outbreak may have changed Streamway Villa’s plans to fundraise for the Alzheimer Society of Canada this month but it was not a deterrent. Read more

Burnbrae administrator hopeful about rejuvenated family council

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April Faux says changing the wording of invitations made the difference

Burnbrae Gardens, like many Ontario long-term care homes, has struggled to maintain a family council. But when administrator and life enrichment co-ordinator April Faux recently changed the wording in a recent invite to a family council meeting, she was surprised by the interest it garnered. Read more

Curiosity driving quality improvement

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PETERBOROUGH, Ont. – Patrick McCarthy says curiosity about ways to improve quality measures for residents in OMNI Health Care’s 18 long-term care homes is embedded in the organization’s culture. Read more